Thread parting and clamping mechanism.



f1. NORTHR O P.

I THREAD PARTING"'AND CLAMPING MECHANISM. I

APPLICATION FILED um. 11. ms. 1,279,412. I PatentedSept. 1 mm I a 34 L THREAD PARTING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED mus. I916. 1 1,279,412. PatentedSept. 1, 19m.

3 SHEET SHEET 2.

J. NORT HHOP. I THREAD PA RTING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM.

n APPLICATION FILED JAN 3. 1916. 1,279,412.

' Patented Sept. 17,1913

Jonas 3031311302; or HOIEDALE, massacnusn'r're, assmaon 1'0 HOPEDALE MannrAcTUmfiG-eomPANY, or MILE am), massacnusm'rs, a conronamon 0]? mass cnosn'r're.

3 1 .279, Spceification 0t Letters Patent.

. To all whom it may emwet'n:

Be it known that 1. Jonas Xon'rHnoP, a citizen of the l, ,hiited States, residing at Hopedale. in the eounty of *oreester and.

6 State of Mass-ache ts; have invented oertain new and seful Imprm'en'ients in Thread Parting and (llan'iping Mechanisms; and I do lnireby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact d ription of the invention. sneh as will enable others-skilled in the art to which it: appertains to make and use the ealne. 4 l The present invention relates to an improvement in thread. parting and elan'lpmg .n'ieehaniems for loome and more portionlarly, to an imlinrm'ement in such mee 'ianisins for anttnnatie weft replenisl'iing looms. When the Filling on the bobbin 1n the aetiw loom has been exhausted to a predeter- Lextent and the bobb n is about to be a new bobbrought ion to elam p and part the thread near the shuttle and, tl'iereatter,

o i'i iierat i inu e of the cloth.

' pr nt iriviinititm to of thread parting tr l'l'leiltllttiliSlt'lS to the end an'iping of the tl'iread 'ly pert. med than hei .tofore be A fin-the ob ot the inventicni l to simplify the construetion and organiai'ltion of the thread parting and elal'nping ll|(I+('.lllI'1iSlll in order to rei'lder "it less liable to 'deran .n'ient by long-continned use and the Jars to which such parts are snbjeett [when the loom is in operation.

. lnaeeordanoe with these objects together with others (:0 ing of eertain nov tea 'tni es of coi'ietliuetion which will hereirmtter appear, the advantages of which will be a piiarent to those srilltd in the art, the invelr in the ilnprm'ed thread partan'iping nmelmnism di- .s :ribed in l n] a rl y ing and e 'uthe renown-l s]: .oitieatirni and part' 1::ointed out in the nppendrat. claims.

are. 1 is a of. a wet J n of th Application filed January a. 1916." Serial in. 70.932.

'nittle of an. aliitornatie weft re ')lenishmay be in- In the at't-tniilimny ing dra w i np's il lust rat- Patented Sept. 17. t9

thereto; Fig. 2 a View similar to Fig- 1 shown'ig the positions of parts immediately after predetermined exhaustion of the filling parting and (damping inevhanisn'i relatively to the shuttle box and to the loom temple; Fig. is a rear elevation of the thread parting and elan'ililing mel'nt'iers, and Fig. ti is a sectional view taken on the line (w-ti of Fig. 5, looking in. the direction of the arrtmf.

The weft re jilenishing loom to which the. improved thread parting and clamping mechanism ie applied, may be of any iisua 0r preferred teeter contmlled construct on. The type of loom illustrated in the am;- ings eon'iprises a lay lttsnpported by a lay sword, 1.1. a breast beam 1%, a lwpper hraeket 13 nninnted 0n the bre: t;hea1n. and a hopper plate Lt sup ported by the'braeket 13. 110131101 arm 1;? is fixedly mounted on a re U ED STATES PATEN i a it shaft 16 which extends across the front ov the lOt'H'll and operatively eoni'iectetfl at the oth'r end with the filling feeler meehanisni.- inittle feeler 17 is pivotally n'u'ninted, at 18 on the hoppr plate It. The ho 1.3 is articadat with the'shuttle t througl'i a. transferrer tllIll lt tll'ltl a' lin k at). When the filling feeler mechanism ha. -indieated.criticalexhaustion of filling in the no tive shuttle. the hopper arm 15 swings to the right, viewing Fig. 1, and thereby swings the shuttle feeler L7 to the left. The hopper arm 15 if yieldingly connected with the transferrer arm 19 for the jnlrposa. of allowing the shuttle feeler 17 to. swing fm'ward in case it sl'iou-ld contact with the shuttle 21 whenthe' shuttle has'not been properly in e 26 nninin re spiral expansion spring 27; the forward end of which is in engagement with the inner forward wall of the housing 26 and the rear end of which is in engagement with a shoulder on the shank 25 ofthe bracket 24, tends to maintain the bracket 24 normally at its rearward limit of movement toward the lay.

The tension of the spring 27 is such that the bracket 24 and the thread parting and clamping mechanism are maintained practically stationary during the thread parting and clamping operations. The purpose of the spring 27 is topermit the bracket 24 to yield in case the shuttle 21 should strike it when the shuttle fails to be properly boxed.

To permit the thread parting and clamping mechanism to be adjusted to accommodate it to different types of looms, a lug 28 projecting upwardly from the housing 26, is'

secured to an upright 29 of a bracket 30 by a slot and bolt connection. The bracket 30 is fastened to the hopper plate bracket 13. Longitudinal adjustment is afforded the thread parting and clamping mechanism by a slot 31 cut transversely in the upright.29, and vertical adjustment is afforded the mechanism by a slot 32 cut vertically in the In 28. A bolt 33 secures the mechanism in ad usted position.

' The thread parting members consist of a longitudinally-movable parting member or plate 35, and any oscillatory parting member 36. The 1 longitudinally movable parting member 35 is provided with two longitudinally disposed apertures or slots 38 and 39 for the reception, respectively, of a short pin 40 and a long pivot pin 41, which project laterally from the lower extremity of the arm 23 of the bracket 24. The length of the pin 40 is somewhat less than the thickness of the'parting member or plate 35. The ends of the slots 38 and 39 limit the forward and rearward movements of the member 35.

These slots permit the parting member 35 to move longitudinally but prevent it from moving laterally. The oscillatory parting member 36 is located immediately adjacent the longitudinally-movable parting member 35, and is mounted on the pivot pin 41. The forward end of the oscillatory parting member 36 is through whlch protrudesf'a in 43 projectin laterally from the long1tudinallymovabTe parting member 35. When the .pin 43 is moved backwardly toward the lay, its engagement with the upper side of the'cam slot 42 swings the oscillatory parting member 36 on the pivot pin 41 until it assumes the open positlon shown in .Fig. A forrovided with a cam slot 42,

by closes it. Rearward movement is imparted to the pin 43 by a bell crank lever 46 pivoted at 47 upon an upwardly extending projection of the bracket 24. The pin .43 is engaged by the rear side of the lower extremlt ,of the vertically disposed arm 48 of the be 1 crank lever 46. The vertical arm 48 of the lever 46 is moved laterally to actuate thefpin- 43 when the longitudinally disposed arm 49. of the lever 46 is depressed. The deression of the longitudinal arm 49 of the ever 46 is fi'ected by the engagement of a lug 50 projecting laterally from a bracket arm 51 secured to the upper end of the hopper arm 15, with a lu 52 projecting'later-- ally froni the fi'ee en arm 49 when the hopper arm-15 moves to the right upon the indication of critical ex. haustion of filling on-the bobbin in the active shuttle. The movement of the hopper of the longitudinal,

arm 15 to the right causes the under sidof thelug 50 to engage the angularly disposed upper surface of the cam-like lug 52 and ride over it, which depresses the longitudi-. nal arm 49, thereby oscillating the lever 46 on its pivot and swinging the vertical arm v48 t0 the left. I

The thread clamping members consist of a stationary clamping member 54 and a pivotal' clamping member 55. The stationary clamping member 54 is a thin plate resembling in outline the longitudinally-movable parting member 35 andis sustained in position on the pivot pin 41, which projects through a hole in the member 54, by the engagement of the upper edge of the member '54 with the lower surface of the part 23 of I the bracket 24, as shown in Fig. 5. A longitudinal slot 56 is cut in the forward end of the stationary clamping member 54 to provide for freemovement therein of the pin 43. The pivotal clamping member 55 is mounted on the pin 41, and its forward end 7 is provided with a cam slot arranged similarly to the cam slot 42 of the oscillatory parting member 36. The cam slot of the pivotal clampin member 55 is engaged by the'pin 43 rqecting from the longitudinally-movabe parting member 35 in the same manner in which the cam slot 42 is engaged .by the pin 43. The movement of thepin .43 toward the lay operates to swing the clamping member 55 on its pivot .into open position in exactly the same-way in which the oscillatory. parting member is swung into open position; and the engagement'of the back-plate .45 of the shuttle box with the rear end of the parting member 35 operates to close the pivotal clamping member 55 in exactlythe same manner in which it operates to close the oscillatory parting member 36., t. 7 i1 vFrom the foregoin been-made clear that 2551 the members of the improved threadfparting and clamping description, it has rma'hanism which itct directly upon the,

thread, with the exception of thelongitudinally-movable parting member are supported enthely by the pin 41, and that t e parting member '35 is supported both by' the pivot 41 and by the pin 40. These-four members are arranged contiguous to each other and are held in frictional engagement laterally by a properly adjusted spiral spriugzfitl which encircles the end of the pivot pin 41 projecting beyond the pivotal clamping meinberj55. The tension exerted by the spring 58 against the thread parting and clamping members is such that, when the vertical arm 48 of the lever 46 pushes the pin 43 toward the lay, thereby moving the parting member 3:):to the limit of its rearward travel and swinging the parting member 36 and clamping member into open. position, these members remain in this position until the parting member 35 is struck by the back plate of the shuttle box and moved toward the breast beam. "When the parting member 35- has nime d 't'eria jil. .tillQb e b he a gag, it of the bacil i place 45' it] with? and theparting member 36 and clamping member have been swung intoelostal. po' 'sition, these members remain in this position until the pin 43 is again acted upon by the arm l8. The movement of the pin 43 toward the breastbeam oscillates the lever rfyintodts normal position. The weight of fthe, longitudinally disposed arm 49 of the bellhrank lever 46 is such as to maintain the rear side of the lower extremity I rerticaltv disposed arm 48 of the lever in constantengagement with the pin-43; but the frictionexerted upon the parting a mlirlan ping members by tl ie spring, 58'is vsuch as to prevent the actuation of the pin t l hytlie \vei ht of the arm 49.

Then the, filling on the bobbin inf-the actiroshuttle has been exhausted to a predetrrlnim-wl extent and thisi'rritical exhaustion ha been indicated by the filling; feeler- 'meohanisnn fltllirh operates to rotate the a rock shaft l and thereby swing theflarn 15 to the rightr thc engagement of the: lug 50 with the lug operates In the mannerhereinheforv drscril'ied to move the iartmg members are unit in position for the reception of the filling thread (50, which.extends from the tellot the cloth to the shuttle 2h on thenext Forward beat of the lay. If the shllttle has been properly boxed. by the 7 time the la v' has reached its forward center, the back plate 1 2 ot' 'thesliuttlelwxhas con- Jartmlwvith the rear end ot'thc longitudinall' \'-n|o\'ahlv" parting! member 35 and has pushed it forward toward the breast brauL.

. tionary cumpin parted thread.

etween the adjacent sides of the clamping' The, forwardmovement of the arting member 35 causes the in 43 carried 1y it to engage the lower si es of the cam slots formed in the forwa .d ends of the oscilla-- toi'y parting, member 36 and the pivotal clamping member 55, and thereby swing them about the pivot pin i1 into closed position. The closing of the "oscillatory parting member against the parting member 35 parts the thread aiid'theclosing of the'tpivotal clamping "ember '55 against the stamemher d4 clamps the he thread is then retained members by their frictional engagement. The construction, arrangement, and mode of operation of the .thread' parting members and the thread clamping members are sucln as clearly ap 'iears rom the gforegoing dea scription, that the thread parting and clamping operations take place substantially simultaneously: Upon the completion ofthe thread parting and clamping operations, the thread, which has been severed relatirely near the boxed shuttle fis; held taut by the claliming-members. as is shown by the dotted line indicated at 64: in Fig. 4. A thread cutter til connected with the looin temple 62 then acts upoirthethread to part it at the selvage ot the cloth. The parted thread is now held by the clamping members until critical exhaustion of filling in .the active shiittle has again been indicated, at which time the pivotal clamping member 55 is (swung into open position and thereby reofthegages the under surface 'oiithe' lug and q raises the longitudinal arm 49 of the bell prank lever 46; and by the time the hopper 15 has reached its normal position, the

a rm

lug 50 has freed itself from enga en'lent with the-lug 52; whereupon, the bel crank leverefi under the influence ofthe weight of the longitudinal arm 49,.sivin son its pivot until the rear side of the lbwer ex trelnity ment withthe pin 43,

It will be observed of the vertical arm 48 is in engage that when the oscillatory parting member 36'.and the pivotal f i-la-mping member 55 'are in open-position,

they occupy a low position relatively to the 't-opsuriace or shuttle race of. t-helayi In 'orderthat these momhorsniay not contact with the front top edge .of the lay, this p01- tlon of the lay is beveled, as shown at 63, so

65 combination, .a'lay', abreast beam, and a that, when the lay 'beatshp, the pivotally mounted parting and clamping members may slide thereon. The low' positioning of the pivotally mounted parting'and clampingfmember relativ ly to the shuttle rac'e' and the 'tieveli'a'g er; the" front-top eage of the lay, is toi'nsure the ositiveengagernent ofthe thread by .t earting and clamping members in case the t read should .10 rest upon; the shuttle race. 7 Having thus described a specific, embodiment'of the invention, what is elaimed 'is: 1. .,A- weft replenishing loom having, gin combination, a .l'ay, .a yweft replenishing mehanism, and a thread parting and clamping mechanism comprisinga longitudl'nallymovable parting member, an oscillatory partin member located adjacent the longitudinal -movable parting member for ooperation therewith, a stationar clamping member contiguous to the oscillatory parting member; a pivotal clamping member located adjacent the stationary clampingmem- "'ber",for'ieoiiperation' therewith,iandjaftsiipport for the thread parting and lamping members. v 2; Auloomfhaving, in combination, a lay,

a weft,replenishingmechanism, and a thread parting and clamping-mechanism comprising a longitudinally-movable parting memher and an oscillatory parting member cooperating to part the thread, a stationary clal'nping member and a pivotal clampin member cooperating t clamp "the threa' and means forvoperating the thread parting and clamping members: I

' 3. A loom having, in combination, a lay, a. weft re lenishing' mechanism, and'a thread a parting Y evice comprising longitudinallymoviable partingmember' and an oscillatory parting member in engagement therewith, said firstllparting member having provision ior-i-novement in onedirecti'on upon an oper- V ation of. the, .weftmrepleiiishing mechanism to move the oscillatory parting member into tion HLQYQmE-nt th byv engagement with the g-the oscillatory parting memvhextxilltosclose'd;Position., v. .7

A We t r plen hing 0 m h v ng inv eamb'in tion, a:1'ay, a breast beam, a .weft 1 1 replenishing, mechanismincluding a hopper mechanism 'c'oi'n'prising a longitudinally- -mo'va'b'le' thread parting member, an oscillatory threa c'l parting member and a bell crank lever, said longitudinally-movable parting, memberhaving provisionfor. actuation by the" belltcrankwlever -to move the oscillatory parting member into open position, and having provision for; actuation by the layfor 'i'novingtheoscillatory member into closed f'positionl w F 5. A weft-replenishing loom having, in

the oscillat parting member and the piv- .1Iit ,o" inoperative ,osition. v

thread'parting and clamping mechanism comprising alongitudinally-movable thread- 'partmg membeig'an oscillatory thread partmg member, a stationary clamping member, a" pivotal clamping member, and,means mounted the" breast beam for supporting" the thread parting and clamping' members, said longitudinally-movable parting mem her having provision for engagement with otal blampig member to move them into open and .closed positions' 6. A weft re enishing loom having, in

' combination, a ay, a breast beam, a hoppe arm, and a threadparting and clamping mechanism comprising, thread parting members, a stationary clamping member, .a ivotally mounted plamping member,--ai1 a' 'bell crank leverconstructed and arranged for. actuation by the hopper arm to actuate thethread parting members in one directio'msaid parting members'having provision for actuation in the opposite direction by thel'ay, the pivotal ithread clamping memer harie previsien where y, h he thread parting members are actuated by, the bell crank lever, it is swung into open posi tion, and when the thread parting members are actuated by the lay, it is swung into closed position. I

'7. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a weft replenishing mechanism including a rock shaft and a hopper arm mounted on the rock shaft, and

a thread partingand clamping mechanism comprlsmg, a bracket, thread parting and clamping members mounted on the bracket,

-and a bell crank lever having provision for engagement with andactuation by the h0pper arm upon operation of the weft replenishing niechanismt move the thread parting and clamping members into operative position, one-nfsaid parting members having. provision ,for actuationby the lay to' move the parting and clampm'g members .8, A weft. rep enishing' loom having, in combination, a lay, a breast beam,'a weftreplenishing' mechanism includingu hopper a m, nd threa -P r i g and mp g mechanism comprising, a' bracket mounted on the breast beam and arranged formo've ment only when struck'by, afn' unboxed T shut tle, thread parting and clam ing' members.- mounted on the bracket, amf'afb'ell -crank lever mounted onfthe'bracket adapted tofbe actuated by the, hop 'er arm to move. the thread parting and'c amping members into operative position, one ofsaid partingmem. bers having provision for actuation. bythe 126 lay for moving the partingand clamping v members into inoperative position e- 9. weft replenishing loemlhaving, ;in. combination, at.lay a breast beain',- a weft replenishing mechanismincludiiig a hopper 130 a of which the o;

parting and clampingmembe e arm, andaf thread parting and clamping a bracket yieldingly beam and thread the thread [mi-ting llilfill'illfil'fi consisting of a longitudin'najrhaniam eon'iprising, n'nimnteiil on the bre nallyahovzibleparting member and an osciland the thread ting of a stationa pivotal clamp latorv parting nieihbtiag clamping members cone s a ry .clam nng member and ing member. the longitiujlinallymovable parting member ha ring prvision by virtue illatory parting memljier and the pivotal (i'lan'iping n'lember aren'mvtafl into open po ion upon. the operation of the weft replenishing l'ncchanien'i and are moved into oh'ieciil ITJOSltlUI'l upon ei'igagement of the longitudinallyant "able parting n'len'iliier by the lay.

'10. "A \veft replenishing loom hating, in eon'lbination, a lay. a breast beam, a \velit replenishing mech a niem inohujling a hopper clan'iping members and a bell crank lever the thread pa rting i'nimibers comprising an lllatory member and a liimgitudimllly'movable; n'lel'nber haviir proviaion for actuation by the bell crank eve and by the lay, so that the cillattiiry mei'nber moved into open poeitnnrwhen the longitudinallyqnow le I'ncmber ie actuated by the lever and moved into cl l position when the longit rtndinally-movable member is actuated by the lay. a t

11;. A weft replen'lel'nng lOOl'I'] having 1n comblnatiolu a lay, a breast beam, a wett replenishingmeclnn'iiam inelnding a hopper armi and a thread parting andclamping mechanism ('Ft'fllll'fl'lFllllg thread. pa rtmg mem bere 'thread clamping members and a hell are k lev r, and connect-ionsbetween the latt rand the thread parting and clamping men here, said bell. crank lever being; connllated 111. one

atrutted and arranged to be 0.

"tion upon operation of the weft re-- planishiag mflt'l'ian'lein. and in the opposite direction by the tin-end parting; ll'lOll'lljlt'lS [upon the forward beat of the luv,

12 A weft re ilenml'ring loom having. in (JOYI'IblIHItlOTL a lay. a li)reast beam. and a thrcatil parting and clamping mechaniam eomprieingah bracket mounted on the breast beam, thread parting mombere consisting of a' longitntlinallyanovaliile parting member and an oscillatory parting Tfltll'lbtl. :1 Stationary clamping member and a pivotal clampingmember. said bracket having a laterally pri'ijeijating pirot' pin for support-- ing t l'ltt tlllttltl parting and clamping n|em bore, and said longitudinally -n'iovable parting member having' a pin for oscillating the oscillatory pa rtin i'i'iemljimand the pivotal clampii'ig member.v

13. A weft replenishing loom having in combination, a ay, a, breast beam. and a lnem thread parting and clamping mechanism comprislng, a-bracketmonnted on the breaet beam, thread parting members, thread clam ring members, and a bell crank L vee the t iread arting members consisting of a longitndina ly-movable mrtingmember having a i the thread clamping members eoneisting of a stationary clampin member and a pivotal clamping1ne1nber,. tie llatory parting having can't slots adapted to bejengaged by pin and an osoil atory niel'i'lbeljand 75 er and the pivotal clamping member the pin, said pin having provision for actliation in one'directionbythe bell crank lever and for actuation intheopposite direction by the longitudinally-inovable parting member. I t 14. A weft replenishing loom havin j; cmnbination, a lay, a Weft replenis l ii mechanisn'i, and athread parting and clamping mocha! sin comprising, thread parting r and clamping memljiers, the thread members consisting of a longitudinal able member and an tln'ead clamping members consisting ofa parting movstationary member and a. pivotal member, i said longitudinally-movable member havlng into openpo provision for actuation in onedirection upon opeli-atiiim of the weft replenishing mechanism and in the opposite direction by engagement \vitlrtlle lay, said oscillatory parting fnember and said ivotal clampin mem ber l'leing constrnctm and arranged? swung into 0 )Glt position when the longitudinally-move le men'ber moved ilrone 'cillatory member, the 1 100 direction, andto be vnng into closed posi-g I tion when the longitirdinally-movable mem' her is moved in-the o .osite direction.

15. A .weft replenie nng loom hav ng, 1n eiinnbination, a lay, a breast beam, 11 weft re 'plenishing mechanisin including a rock shaft and a hopper arn'i mounted on the rock shaft, and a threat parting and clamping luerliauiem con'lpl n a bracket mounted on the breaet bean. thread parting and (-lamping: mi-unhers. and n bellcrank lever mounted on the bracket said l'everhaving Pl'tl'Vl-Hlfil) for engagement with and actnation by the hopper arm upon the operation otthe weft re 'ilenishing mechanism to more the thread parting; and (damping members having IIIUYISIUX] tor actuation in the 'oppoaite direction by engagement ivith thejlayi to more the thread partingand clamping members into closed position.

16. A weftreple'nishing: .loom oon bination. a lay. a breast bcann a WVQfl; replenishing nna-l'mnism ii'iclnding a hopper arm. and a thread parting and clamping mechanism comprising; a bracket monnte on the breast beam and 'inminted for movement only when etrnck by an unboxed shut tle. thread partin and elamphg) mounted on the bracket and a ell crank let i tion, and said parting members having, in

members I lever, said thread parting and clamping members having provision for actuation into open position by the bell crank lever upon operation of the weft replenlshlng mechanism, and into closed position byengagement with the lay.

17. A weft replenishing loom having, in Combination, a lay, a breast beam, a weft replenishing mechanism, and a thread parting and clamping mechanism comprising,

thread parting and clamping members, thethread partmg members consisting of a longitudinally movable member and an oscillatory member, and the clamping members consisting of a stationary member and a.pivotal member, the longitudinally-movable member having provision for movement toward the lay to swing the oscillatory member and the pivotal member into open positlon and having rovlsion for moiement towvard the breast eam to swing the oscillatoity member and the pivotal member into closed position.

18. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a breast beam, and a thread parting and clamping mechanism comprising, thread parting and clamping members, the. thread parting members con' sisting of a longitudinally-mmable member including a pin andian oscillatory member, and the thread clamping members consisting'of a stationary member and a pivotal member, the oscillatory member and the pivotal member being providcl with cam slots adapted to receive the pin and to be actuated thereby into open and closed positions according to the movements of the longitudinally-movable member.

19. A weft replenishing loom having, in'

combination, a lay, a breast beam, a weft replenishing mechanism including a hopper arm, and a thread parting and clampm mechanism comprising a bracket yieldingly mounted on the breast beam, a bell crank lever pivoted on the bracket, a longitudinally-movable parting member, an oscillatory parting member, a stationary clamping member, and a pivotal clamping member mounted on the bracket, said bell crank lever being normallyv in engagement with the hopper arm and the longitudinally-movable parting member, and having provision for moving the longitudinall movable parting member toward the ay to thereby open the oscillatory parting member and the pivotal clamping member upon a movement of the hopper arm, said longitudinallymovable parting member having provision for engagement by the lay whereby it is moved toward the breast beam to close'the tionary member and a pivotal member, the

thread parting and clamping members having provision for actuation into open and closed posrhons by the longitudinally-movable member, and means for holding the thread parting and clamping members in frictional en; ".gement with each other.

21. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a brcaii' beam, a weft replenishing mechanism, am. a thread parting and clamping mechanism comprising, thread parting and clamping members, one of said parting nlembers having provision for longitudinal movement toward the lay to move/the thread parting and clamping members into open position, and for longitudinal movement toward the breast beam to move the vthread parting and clamping members into closed position, and means having provision for maintaining the thread parting and clamping members in either open or closed position until the longitudinally moving thread parting member is positively engaged to oe moved toward either the lay or the breast beam.

22. A weft replenishing mechanism having, in combination, a lay, a breast beam, and a' thread parting and clamping mechanism comprising a bracket mounted on the breast beam, a parting member mounted for longitudinal movements on the bracket, an

oscillatory parting member cooperating therewith to part the thread, a statioi'iary member, a pivotal clamping member en-' 'gaged by the pin, means for moving the longitudinallly-movable member in one direction to move the oscillatory and pivotal members into open position, and means for moving said member in the opposite direction to move said members into closed position.

JONAS NORTYHROP. 

